Eyeglasses used to be the bane of fashion, but now it’s become a trendy accessory. So much so that you see celebrities sporting glasses even if they don’t need them, or people buying multiple pairs to wear different styles with different outfits. If you’ve been following me for awhile, then you read about my quest for the perfect pair of nerdy chic, hipster eyeglasses. Then I recently got LASIK, and didn’t necessarily need those glasses anymore. I was sad because I still thought they were cute and wanted to wear them on occasion, but adding non-prescription lenses to those Raybans would be more than $100….crazy! That’s why I was so excited to have this opportunity to pick a different pair of glasses for free from Coastal.com. I have to tell you about this awesome experience, and how YOU too can get a free pair of Designer Eyeglasses!

Listen up people! 🙂

I’ve never tried purchasing eyeglass or sunglasses online before (it kind of intimidated me), but this was a really easy buying experience. Coastal.com has become the largest online retailer of eyeglasses and contact lenses in North America, and I could definitely see why! They have all of the big designer brands/products offered in stores, but for half the price. They also deliver directly to your home, and offer prescription glasses, non-prescription glasses, and even sunglasses. I specifically LOVE their line of Derek Cardigan Eyeglasses for men and women, which are classically vintage inspired, yet trendy. They have a ton of different styles and color options, like this!

Since I already had a pair of eyeglasses with a square frame, I wanted something completely different. I was thinking maybe a color like fuschia, or just a different shape. I was really gravitating towards the cateye glasses, and they had a few different Derek Cardigan cateye options. I uploaded a photo of myself and used their virtual tool online to “try on” a few pairs.

I decided this cateye style 7019 in Dark Timber was the winner. Just cateye enough, but not too over-the-top so I could still wear them to work.

When ordering, you fill out your prescription per eye, and pick the type of lense you want (sunglass, regular, bifocal, extra thin, etc). All lenses come with anti-scratch and anti-glare. I ended up having a quick question since I was ordering non-prescription glasses, and I simply used their live chat. Super easy!

My glasses arrived in the mail about 2 weeks later. They came in a nice case with a cleaner and eyeglass tool kit.

I love how Derek Cardigan puts different math symbols on his frames. This style has a colon and a semi-colon…I’m so easily amused! Now prepare for a selfie photo shoot.

I’m going to leave you with some fun facts:
–Derek Cardigan Eyeglasses were featured in Flo Rida’s “I Cry” music video and Alicia Key’s “Brand New Me” music video.
-For every pair of glasses purchased, Coastal donates another pair to someone in need! Look good, while doing good!

GET YOUR OWN FREE PAIR

Now how do you get your own free pair of eyeglasses from Coastal.com you ask? If you’re a new customer, simply go here and use promo code: FIRSTPAIRFREE. Then choose from over 300 specifed frames (other restrictions may apply). It’s literally that easy!

I have horrible eyesight and had to get glasses when I was 10 years old. By age 12, I was wearing contacts. I still had glasses as a backup option, and started with these ginormous ones that reminded me something of Ralphie’s from “A Christmas Story.”

Well, eventually I upgraded to new, smaller rectangular wire frames, and those glasses went through a lot! One of the lenses relentlessly kept popping out, and they must of gotten accidentally sat on at least three times. Still, I only wore them occasionally at night when my contacts would dry out, but really needed to give my poor eyes a break. I would fall asleep in my contacts too — not good!

I decided I needed new frames, and started noticing the thicker, all plastic frames were back in style. I wanted something I would actually wear in public that enhanced my look, and I was really digging the nerdy chic/hipster trend. I decided to start my hunt and found my inspiration here…..

Anne Hathaway looking so adorkable in her glasses!

I love how Anne Hathaway’s glasses are over-sized, square, and tortoise colored. I found this AWESOME online optical company called Warby Parker. They specialize in affordable, trendy vintage looking glasses, and I love that all of their frames (complete with lenses that already have scratch-resistant coating) are a flat $95! Much cheaper than going to a boutique optical store even with my insurance. Plus, for every pair they sell, they give a pair to someone in need!

Example of some of the eyeglass styles Warby Parker carries.

What really sets them aside from other online eyeglass companies is their at-home try on feature. You can actually order up to 5 pairs at a time to try on at your home. They’ll ship the frames to you for free, and you ship back for free too. AMAZING. This was great, because I wanted to see exactly how the frames looked in person and fit my face. Checkout this video here which really tells more of their story and how that at-home try on works.

I actually did the at-home try on about 3 times, because there are so many good ones to choose from. As I was in the middle of conquering that quest, somewhere along the way I watched the movie “Our Idiot Brother.” Movie was eh ok, but I ended up falling in love with the glasses Janet Montgomery wears in the movie (ah, I’m so easily swayed). Here was my new inspiration. I thought it achieved the look I wanted, but in a more delicate way so that it was something I could wear everyday.

I dug around, and although I’m not entirely sure, I think she’s wearing Ray Bans. Regardless, I found a great new release Ray Ban frame that is at least very similar to Janet’s, and comes in 5 different color combos. Style RB5241 is the style number, and I chose color 5074 which is a dark tortoise with purple trim.

I will still probably get one of these pairs of Women’s Warby Parker glasses sometime soon. I really do think they’re a great company with great options and benefits, plus I would love to get another fun pair as I’ve been wearing mine a lot!

So my question to you is, what do you think???

Do you own a pair of eyeglasses that you love? Do you think I chose the right frame, or what’s your fav Warby Parker style? Let me know in a comment!